2 TOBACCO. 



ous forms as truly slaves as were our Southern 

 negroes? Is not its bondage as oppressive as was 

 theirs ? Are not its fetters as tightly riveted ? 



This tobacco-habit extends to every nation on 

 the globe, and permeates every rank in society. 

 The gray-haired patriarch is not too old nor the 

 boy of twelve too young to be its willing subject. 

 The filthiest slum and the politest society are alike 

 pervaded by it. 



It stalks defiantly through the streets, fouling 

 the very air of heaven. It boldly sits in our legis- 

 lative halls, both state and national. In spite of 

 special arrangements to imprison it, there is no 

 such thing as shutting it away from the tell-tale 

 air and the whispering breeze. 



Its insidious spell has so fallen on the community 

 that multitudes seem utterly insensible to its char- 

 acter and its consequences. Indeed, so potent is 

 this spell that there is now and then a woman who, 

 instead of being: disturbed bv seeing her father or 

 brother, husband or lover, among the victims, will 

 complacently smile upon his offence and gayly 

 decorate the symbols of his slavery. 



Shall I be pronounced a fanatic, a monomaniac, 

 for writing thus? Yea, verily. But though I am 

 struck, I will still claim a hearing. 



If you deem it audacious for a woman to attack 

 so terrible a giant, let me plead in self-defence 

 that, deepty moved on the subject, I was impelled 

 to go forth, and, under cover, to fire a few shots. 

 Through the encouragement and solicitations of 



